unfortunate names

Definition for non-Spanish speakers:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pajero

Forbes best and worst car names: http://www.forbes.com/2004/07/09/cx_dl_0712featslide_20.html?thisSpeed=20000

a word about whistling

I was standing in the gentleman's toilets the other day when a question popped into my head. Why do men whistle more than women? (according to research, there are only 2 women in the world that whistle, and they both live in Eastern Russia) I find that the most common time to hear examples of whistling is in the toilet. I suppose that I must have heard someone whistling to put the thought in my head. When one thinks of whistling in terms of a carefully executed exhalation of air, and positioning of the lips to provide "tunefullness", much like singing, it poses another question: most people (let alone men) would be too shy to sing in public, so why, therefore, should whistling be any different? It is, in fact, very expressive. Should men really be happy with this?

What I can say is that I think i've identified two main types of whistling, which are defined by the situation in which they are used. There is the "fake" whistle, presumably to mask an uncomfortable situation, and often heard in the toilet (or perhaps after an embarrassing slip of some sort), which is often simple and repetitive in style (after all it's only a decoy), and there is the "whistle of contentment", often heard used by old men while looking at house plants (but not exclusively so), which can be extremely intricate in style and is, I think, a genuine expression of happiness with the world.

Ok, so I may have identified different types of whistling but this doesn't answer my initial question: Why do men whistle more than women? Is it a vent for stress? something used instead of talking through feelings? Or it could be a way of expressing excitement - how often do you hear a man expressing his excitment about something in words? Or perhaps it goes back to the dawn of man - something to do with mating, attracting attention, or hunting for food... an instinct which can't be shaken off? Who knows. I would love to know the reason. Yet another of life's little mysteries... suggestions are welcome.

happy 40th birthday, 2001: A Space Odyssey

Music: 'Disorder' by Joy Division (1979).

conducir y hablar por el móvil

Un articulo para los que hablan español o los que quieren aprenderlo.

Cada día, veo mucha gente conduciendo y hablando por el móvil al mismo tiempo. Me continúa sorprendiendo, porque aquí en Inglaterra es ilegal y al menos se pagaría una multa de £60 (y lo peor - se podría matar a alguien). En mi opinión es muy peligroso e ignorante, y el continuar haciéndolo, solo puede ser descripto como arrogante. Estoy seguro de que muchos de los que lo hacen ya saben que es muy peligroso pero continúan haciéndolo y creo que si hubiera alguien que les preguntara por qué lo hacen, muchos contestarían: "porque todo el mundo lo hace" o peor - contestarían con algo ofensivo. Mucha gente mete excusas, pero no existe excusa alguna.

En mi experiencia, no es posible conducir y hacer otra cosa al mismo tiempo sin distraerse. Creo que las consecuencias deberían ser más que solo una multa (o puntos). ¿Por qué la gente cree que es algo sin suma importancia? Me parece que es puesto en una categoria de menos importancia de la que tiene. Puede costar vidas.

Visita estos sitios para más información

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/advice/mobilephones.htm (Inglés)

http://es.engadget.com/2008/03/08/hablar-por-telefono-al-volante-conducir-borracho-y-ii/

Mar Del Plata, Argentina

One of our scheduled stops. You may want to turn the sound off.

Enjoy

you all everybody!

Was thinking about Lost, and how I'm missing it, and decided to make a small tribute to the best character, the late Charlie Pace (and that's not just because he was the only English character, but clearly it helps). Think i've captured most of the best moments of his time in the show. And after I will give myself a slap, tell myself to stop acting like a teenage girl, and to never make such a girly collage again (click image to enlarge).

missing Barcelona...

Just thought i'd say that on this wet and miserable day, I'm missing Barcelona...